About The Band

Mercyful Fate: A Brief History

About the Band

Mercyful Fate is a Danish heavy metal band formed in Copenhagen in 1981. They are best known for their gothic and horror-themed lyrics and their use of heavy, distorted guitars and high-pitched vocals. The band has released nine studio albums, two live albums, and two compilation albums. Their most recent album, In the Shadows, was released in 2019.

Formative Years

The band was formed by vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Hank Shermann. They were later joined by bassist Timi Hansen and drummer Kim Ruzz. The band's early sound was influenced by bands such as Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, but they quickly developed their own unique sound. They signed a contract with Roadrunner Records in 1982 and released their debut album, Melissa, in 1983.

The band's second album, Don't Break the Oath, was released in 1984 and was a critical and commercial success. The album's title track has become one of the band's most well-known songs. The band toured extensively in support of the album, but they broke up in 1985.

Reformation

The band reformed in 1993 and released their third album, Time, in 1994. The album was a commercial success and was followed by several more albums. The band has toured extensively since their reformation and has performed at some of the world's biggest festivals.